Incandescent-electric-lamp socket.



No. 785,997. PATBNTBD MAR. 28, 1905.

G. o. BAILLARD. INGANDESGENT BLEGTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 28, 1902.

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mm f MMM/nm UNITED STATES .Patented lMarch 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. BAILLARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE NEV YORK.

INCANDESCENT-ELECII'RlC-LANIP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,997, dated March 28, 1905.

Application led May 28, 1902. Serial No. 109,302.

To @Il whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. BAILLARD, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, State of New York,vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-Electric-Lamp Sockets, of whichthe following is a specification.

In Letters Patent of the United States No. 472,800, granted to me April 12, 1892, I have shown and claimed a device for electrically coupling the bared ends of circuit-wires to tubular terminals. That patent shows such a construction in connection with an incandescent lamp in an organization wherein the ordinary lamp-socket is dispensed with.

My present improvement in lamp-sockets provides that the circuit-wires shall be permanently .connected with the socket by means of tubular terminals and a clamping device of substantially the character shown in said patent. I have discovered that with a lampsocket so constructed a good permanent electrical connection is aiforded. The bared ends of the circuit -wires are completely covered and protected, and the necessityfor making the ordinary solid connections between the circuit-wires and contact devices of the lamp is obviated, thereby materially reducing the labor and expense of installation without materially increasingthe cost of the lamp-socket.

My invention is'applicable to the several standard types of lamp-sockets now in use, and the invention is not dependent upon any particular arrangement of contacts, switchkey, or other essentials of an ordinary socket.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the invention applied to two-familiar styles of sockets.

Figure 1 is a plan view of Ia lamp-socket with the casing removed, showing the tubular terminals exposed and wires inserted therein; Fig. 2, a like view showing the wires clamped by the slotted cap; Eig. 3,- a longitudinal section, and Fig. t a perspective view of a complete socket and the upper part of lamp inserted in it. Y

In the upper face of the usual block of insulating material constituting the body of the socket I sink two tubular contact-pieces t c. One is permanently connected with a contact CZ', with which the center terminal on the base of the ordinary lamp makes connection. The other tubular terminal is similarly permanently electrically connected with the yoke c, carrying the spring contact-tongue d and in the upturned ends of which is mounted the spindle of the switch or key c, carrying the ordinary switch-block f, adapted to place the yielding switch tongue, or linger in electrical contact with the threaded socket or sleeve g, into which the lamp-base screws. The upper end of the block of insulating material is shouldered and preferably threaded, as shown, to receive a screw-cap it, having in it curved slots t. These slots are so disposed that in one position of the cap the tubular terminals are exposed, and when the cap is rotated the solid part thereof between the slots covers the terminals. Of course the socket is to be provided with the ordinary spun sheetmetal cover, by which it is attached to the fixture, and any other usual adjuncts of a complete device. The mode of operation is as follows: Insulation having been removed for a suitable distance from the ends of the ordinary insulated circuit-wires, 'the bared ends are passed through slots into the tubular terminals. The cap is then rotated and the edges of the slot moving across vthe open or tubular terminals bind the wires in and against the sides thereof, and continued rotation of the cap, accompanied by continued lateral displacement of the wires, results in the complete covering of the tubular terminals as well as the bared ends of .the wires. The wires are held not only by lateral or transverse strain or clamping action, but also when the cap is screwed down tight by the direct axial pressure of the cap upon the part of the wire which is laterally displaced and lies upon the upper face of the block of insulating material at one side of the tubular terminals. The walls of the slot which act upon the wires I term vertical clamping edges. The bared ends of the wires when inserted extend past these clamping edges into the terminals.

1 have used the term tubular terminal, as I prefer to so make them; but obviously they need not he complete tubes. It is only essential that they should have a cavity within which the ends of the wires may be inserted and a cond ueting piece or terminal properly disposed at that edge or side of the cavity toward which the clamping edges move. By the term tubular terminals 1 intend to include any such obvious modification oi' structure.

1 claim as my invention-- l. A lamp-socket having a hase of insulating material, lamp-contacts secured to said hase, tubular terminals permanently electrically connected with the respective contacts, and a clamping device having clamping edges adapted to be moved across the ternlinals at right angles to their axes and past which the bared ends of thc circuit-wires extend when inserted into the terminals whereby, when the wires are inserted, the clamping device may be moved transversely and its edges caused to clamp or pinch the wires against the sides or edges of the terminals.

2. A lamp-sockethavinga loase consisting oi' a single piece of insulating material with a reduced upper end provided with peripheral screw-threads, a screwshell and center contacts mounted on the lower end of said base, line-terminals comprising apertured metallic pieces secured to the upper end of said base and electrically connected with the respective contacts, and a cap oi' insulating material screw-threaded to the end of said hase over the line-terminals and provided with slots adapted to aline with the apertures in the metallic pieces when said cap is in one position and to disaline therewith when the cap is partially rotated.

1n testimony whereotl I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE C. BAILLARD. Titnessesz KATHARINE MAcMAHoN, VILLIAM A. STAHLIN. 

